Winter cold and safely working horses

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Christina_M

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I live in Ohio, so the winters here get cold and snowy. I've heard a few different opinions on when I should and shouldn't work the horses, but I would like to know more. Someone told me that you shouldn't exercise the horses when it's below 10 degrees because it is bad for their lungs.

I'm aware that you don't want to work the horses on the ice or slipery snow, but what about the cold air? When is it too cold to work the horses? Do you have any precautions that you take before or after or work them? How long do you work them? I'm wanting to lunge and ground drive this winter, but I definitely don't want to hurt any of them. Thanks in advance for your opinions!
 
If the air hurts my lungs to breathe, I won't ask the horses to work in it. I may invite them to play with me and run around, but it is an invitation and they are free to decline.
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They'll tell me if they feel like running!

Ground-driving is a good option in winter because you can accomplish a lot at a safe walk without overheating them or worrying about their lungs. Work on collection, transitions, a good marching walk, standing quietly, sidepassing, backing, obstacle work...there's lots you can accomplish.

Leia
 
I live in Arizona and it gets freezing here in the early AM and PM, so I usually dont work mine all winter, til it gets spring again..

I'm sure you will get a host of different awnsers, but I have always considered this time their time to just be horses.

Mine are in a large pasture setting, so they get enough of exersize at their own free will. ( maybe yours arent?)

They also need a bit more calories in the colder weather just to keep them warm, and it can be harder to monitor their weight under their woolies.

Just a note to consider, Exersizing them in the winter would cause an additional need for an increase in calories in their diet.
 
I don't like to do any conditioning type of work in the winter months. They need some time off. However, there are many things that can be done. I like to teach patience and manners in the winter months. Line driving is great at a walk if you have a good solid non slippery surface and you can teach almost anything at the walk. I don't want anyone getting warm under all that hair as cooling out is hard and don't want any chills. Great winter projects are pivots, sidepasses, setting up, tieing and I have even set up a small x type of jump in the barn isle just to teach the going over the middle for the hunter type horse. My temperature threshold is about 20 degrees.

Arlene
 
I don't like to do any conditioning type of work in the winter months. They need some time off. However, there are many things that can be done. I like to teach patience and manners in the winter months. Line driving is great at a walk if you have a good solid non slippery surface and you can teach almost anything at the walk. I don't want anyone getting warm under all that hair as cooling out is hard and don't want any chills. Great winter projects are pivots, sidepasses, setting up, tieing and I have even set up a small x type of jump in the barn isle just to teach the going over the middle for the hunter type horse. My temperature threshold is about 20 degrees.
Arlene
We have lots of cold, ice and snow in the winter months - but a big DITTO to the above suggestion.
 
I'm with ground manners mainly......in winter

It does get "cold" for ME out there and I wear one of those insulated one-piece coverall beauties. A real fashion statement
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BUT, once I'm out there moving around and exerting energy, I can warm up and actually begin peeling and unzipping. Do that yourself and you realize what the horses are feeling with their "built-in" jumpsuit. Mine generally like to run and buck more in the winter than the summer, so I feel that they get all they need in that respect -- learning to whoa, back, etc, they can almost always use as a training or re-fresher.

Deck your self out and see what you feel. Oh, if you do have an inside area where they can slowly and properly cool out that's another consideration BUT -- it gets hot and sweaty in those winter coats!

Much care is needed if you force the workout.
 
We are in WI, and 20 degrees is my cutoff. Below that is just too cold for me!

We work (drive) our horses in our indoor if the temp is above that, and haven't had any issues, esp. with the minis. If they get sweaty at all, make sure they are dry before you turn them out, if you do that. (Our horses are turned out all the time except to be fed, worked, or if it is just unbearable. Wednesday night is supposed to be 0 degrees and 30 mph wind! We will probably leave some horses in.) I usually do not work them so much so they get very sweaty. A wool cooler can help with removing moisture from their coats if necessary. (I don't find that my mini gelding ever sweated that much to need one.) If their paddock is deep with snow, some horses actually appreciate having the opportunity to be able to move!

Another good option to consider for winter is Showmanship work, even if you aren't going to show in that class. Showmanship will teach the horses how to maintain distance from you while walking, trotting and turning, patience in standing, setting up. All of these skills are useful in teaching a horse to drive. We have found that the more Showmanship work a horse has, the easier they are to teach to drive. If you use the same vocal cues for Showmanship as you do driving, they will pick it up fast: w(ho)a, stand, come, get, walk, trot, etc.
 

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